The 4 Best Face Moisturizers on Amazon in 2026
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are independently researched, written by TwelveTabs AI and never sponsored.
The top picks
- Dry skin, as a night lotion: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
- Oily skin that wants a light layer under makeup: e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Daily Hydration Moisturizer
- A daytime moisturizer with sunscreen: CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
- Sensitive skin that wants a short ingredient list: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Our top pick for most people is the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. It won the main TwelveTabs search we ran for this guide, “best face moisturizer”, out of 63 Amazon listings. It is an oil-free lotion for dry skin, made for night, and it suits anyone who wants a simple, reliable moisturizer before bed.
Oily skin? The e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Daily Hydration Moisturizer won our oily skin search. For daytime, the CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 won our SPF search. And for sensitive skin, the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is both a runner-up in our oily skin search and Wirecutter’s sensitive skin pick.
How this pick was made
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is the top pick. This is the work behind that choice.
- 185Amazon search results read, across 3 searches
- 9finalist pages read in full
- 65shopper reviews read
- 2expert sources cross-checked: Wirecutter, American Academy of Dermatology
Run on September 25, 2026. AI read the listings and what shoppers say, then wrote this guide. Full method and limits
Our picks in detail
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Best for: Dry skin, as a night lotion
- $13.62
- 4.7 (63,424 reviews)
- 90K+ bought last month
- ★ Amazon's Choice
- Pros Made for dry skin
- Cons No sunscreen: a night lotion
Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.
Pros and cons
e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Daily Hydration Moisturizer
Best for: Oily skin that wants a light layer under makeup
- $8.97
- 4.7 (13,728 reviews)
- 9K+ bought last month
- ★ Amazon's Choice
- Pros Lightweight
- Cons Smaller tube
Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.
Pros and cons
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Best for: A daytime moisturizer with sunscreen
- $14.29
- 4.7 (16,596 reviews)
- 20K+ bought last month
- Pros Broad spectrum SPF 30
- Cons Small 1.7 oz bottle
Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.
Pros and cons
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Best for: Sensitive skin that wants a short ingredient list
- $13.29
- 4.6 (25,912 reviews)
- 100K+ bought last month
- Pros Also Wirecutter's sensitive skin pick
- Cons Plain tube
Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.
Pros and cons
Compare the picks
Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026. They change often, so check today's price on Amazon.
| Picture | Product | Outcome | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing LotionSunscreen: None | Price $13.62 | 90K+ bought last month | Rating 4.7 | 63,424 reviews | Winner. Best for: Dry skin, as a night lotion |
| 2 |  | e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Daily Hydration MoisturizerSunscreen: None | Price $8.97 | 9K+ bought last month | Rating 4.7 | 13,728 reviews | Best for: Oily skin that wants a light layer under makeup |
| 3 |  | CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30Sunscreen: SPF 30 | Price $14.29 | 20K+ bought last month | Rating 4.7 | 16,596 reviews | Best for: A daytime moisturizer with sunscreen |
| 4 |  | Vanicream Daily Facial MoisturizerSunscreen: None | Price $13.29 | 100K+ bought last month | Rating 4.6 | 25,912 reviews | Best for: Sensitive skin that wants a short ingredient list |
How to choose a face moisturizer
A good face moisturizer holds water in your skin and does not clog or irritate it. The right one depends on your skin type and the time of day. These four things matter most.
- What is in it. Wirecutter’s dermatologists suggest looking for three kinds of ingredients. Humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, draw in moisture. Emollients, such as squalane and niacinamide, soften skin. Occlusives, such as ceramides and oils like shea butter, seal the moisture in. Many good moisturizers have some of each.
- Fewer ingredients for sensitive skin. Every dermatologist Wirecutter spoke to said that a long ingredient list makes it harder to find what is causing redness or stinging. If your skin reacts easily, choose a short list without fragrance.
- Texture for your skin type. Dry skin usually likes a richer lotion or cream. Oily skin does better with a lightweight, oil-free formula that will not feel greasy or disturb makeup.
- Day or night. A daytime moisturizer should have sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad spectrum protection and SPF 30 or higher. A night moisturizer has none, because you do not need it in the dark.
What we left out, and why
Our three searches returned 185 listings. TwelveTabs shortlisted 30 of them, read the listing pages of 9 finalists, and named a winner and two runners-up in each search. We kept four and left out three:
- St. Ives Collagen Elastin Face Moisturizer, a runner-up in our main search. It is a large jar for dry skin, which doubled up on our top pick.
- e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Face Cream SPF 30, a runner-up in our SPF search. It is the sunscreen version of our pick 2, and our SPF search ranked the CeraVe above it.
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield SPF 25, a runner-up in our SPF search. Its SPF 25 is below the SPF 30 the American Academy of Dermatology recommends.
Wirecutter’s first pick, its best moisturizer for sensitive skin, is the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer. It is our pick 4, so it is not repeated in the comparison table.
How we researched
On September 25, 2026 we ran three live TwelveTabs searches of Amazon: “best face moisturizer”, “face moisturizer for oily skin” and “face moisturizer with spf”. Together they returned 185 listings. TwelveTabs shortlisted 10 from each search, read the listing pages of 9 finalists and named a winner and two runners-up in each. We kept four that each suit a different skin need, and left out three. AI wrote this guide from that research.
Listings change: we read them on September 25, 2026, and a formula, size or seller may differ today. This guide is not medical advice.
Prices, ratings and review counts come from Amazon and were read on September 25, 2026.
Sources
- Wirecutter: After Considering 73 Moisturizers, We Found 7 Standouts for Different Skin Types, read April 3, 2026
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to select a sunscreen, read September 25, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the best face moisturizer for dry skin?
The CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion won our main search, and its listing says it is made for dry skin. Use it at night, and a moisturizer with sunscreen in the day. Want an oil on top? See our facial oil guide.
What is the best face moisturizer for oily skin?
Our oily skin search picked the e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Daily Hydration Moisturizer. Look for a lightweight, oil-free formula.
Do you need a separate moisturizer for day and night?
Not strictly, but a day moisturizer should have sunscreen and a night one does not need it. Two is the simplest way to get both. If you want a face cream aimed at firmer-looking skin, see our firming face lotion guide. For creams made for men or with built-in SPF, see our men’s facial moisturizer guide.
What is the best moisturizer for sensitive skin?
The Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is Wirecutter’s pick for sensitive skin and a runner-up in our oily skin search. Its ingredient list is short and fragrance-free.
Have oily skin? Our oily skin moisturizers guide compares four by finish and sun protection.
How did TwelveTabs choose these moisturizers?
TwelveTabs ranked the Amazon listings for “best face moisturizer”, “face moisturizer for oily skin” and “face moisturizer with spf”, read the pages of 9 finalists and named a winner in each search. From those 185 listings, we kept the four that each suit a different need, as of September 25, 2026. We checked the advice against Wirecutter and American Academy of Dermatology. TwelveTabs, our AI shopping agent, compared the Amazon listings, and AI wrote this guide from that research. To see what it picks today, run the search yourself with the button on this page.
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